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F-Zero:
Maximum Velocity

Score: 7.5 / 10

There seems to be a few set in stone,
undeniable, eternal truths as to what the future will be like. Clothing
will be outrageously designed, flipping out at weird angles, space
travel will happen on a massive level (likely due to the sun going
nova), and we have about a 50-50 chance that either we'll be living in
an idyllic, war-free world where everything is smiles and sunshine, or a
dark, decaying, over-sexed, drugged up land where the evil corporation
calls the shots. Arguably the biggest future truth of all is that we'll
have flying cars, or at least ones that hover.

Nintendo knows this, they've seen the
future (they do have a time machine, don't believe the nay Sayers). In
the early 90s they helped prepare the world's youth for this inevitable
future by making a superb hover car simulator for the SNES called
F-Zero. The kids loved it and could rest easy feeling safe in the
knowledge that they knew the fundamentals of how to operate a hover car.
About six

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years later Nintendo began to worry that these youths were becoming
soft, and not practicing their hover car driving skills nearly enough
anymore, not to mention that a whole new generation was growing up and
had to prepare for the future and flying cars, so a sequel came to the
N64. Now, with a handheld system available to handle the technical
requirements of the original F-Zero, Nintendo has released F-Zero:
Maximum Velocity for the GameBoy Advance. Between its clean display and
simple, yet gripping, nature the game provides all of the fun and
learning material so that we can all practice our hover car driving
wherever we go.

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity looks much like the SNES version of F-Zero,
showing off the GBA's ability to display graphics on par with the late,
great 16-bit console. The different courses all scroll at you with that
Mode 7 scaling vibe of years long past. Meanwhile the designs of the
hover cars is a mix of the future with a 50s hot rod mentality of curves
and tailfins. Track design is very well done as there are enough twists
and turns to keep one occupied with enjoying the game, not pulling their
hair out in frustration. Sound on the other hand is definitely not for
everyone. While the effects are serviceable the music is very much like
that found in 16-bit games where things can get all to poppy all to
fast. Beware.

Control is simple enough, leaving players only to concern themselves
with steering, gas, breaks, and turbo. It's simple, to the point, and
easy to get into. It by no means makes the game any easier, as it is of
the utmost importance that gamers quickly learn to brake well going into
the corners, so less buttons to worry about doesn't reduce the
difficulty of the title.

The selection of play modes is respectable as Maximum Velocity has a
practice mode, grand prix, and two link cable options. It's all you
really need to get a good amount of enjoyment out of the game.

At the end of the day what Maximum Velocity provides is the type of game
experience one expects from a handheld: simple gameplay that can stay
entertaining for a long period of time. You can't really ask for much
more from it. Granted it can be hard to see the on-screen action without
the aid of natural light, but other than that there is plenty of fun to
be had from this game.